BOSTON -- The Detroit Tigers clearly have the advantage when it comes to starting pitching heading into the final two games of the American League Championship Series.

But the Boston Red Sox have a 3-to-2 advantage in the best-of-seven series and seem to have the advantage over the Tigers in several other areas. They have a better bullpen. They are a better defensive team. They have more team speed. They led the American League in runs scored this season.

The series is as close as it can be. The Red Sox have a one-game lead based on three one-run victories. The Tigers have an uphill climb if they are to win the series, but the fact that four of the five games have been decided by one run shows how small the margin for error is. It also shows that one more good play, one clutch hit, one mistake pitch or fielding error can change the series.

Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander give the Tigers a fighting chance to win consecutive games at Fenway Park even though the Red Sox had the best home record in the American League this season at 53-28. But in addition to solid starting pitching what else has to happen for the Tigers to bounce back and claim a spot in the World Series for a second consecutive season?

Here are three things that would certainly help:

Max Scherzer could pitch one inning deeper into Game 6.Scherzer has gone seven innings in each of his postseason starts. The bullpen for the Tigers has been solid at times and extremely shaky at others.

If Scherzer can pitch well and pitch deeper into the game, he will put the Tigers in great shape to win Game 6. Obviously, the first step to winning two games is to win one. Scherzer is the key.

The defense could make a difference-making play.Beyond shortstop Jose Iglesias, the Tigers don't have a glut of plus defenders. Iglesias and Austin Jackson, who has not had his best defensive season, are the two Tigers players most capable of making a game-changing defensive play.

But it might not even be a matter of playing excellent defense. It might be a matter of playing solid defense. The Tigers have allowed three unearned runs in 10 postseason games. Every run Red Sox pitchers have allowed have been earned.

One run can make a difference in a game and a series. The Tigers need the best their defense -- especially a hobbled Miguel Cabrera at third and inexperienced Jhonny Perlata in left -- has to offer.

Prince Fielder could come up with a clutch extra-base hit.Fielder has gone 17 consecutive postseason games without an RBI. He has played 19 consecutive postseason games since his last home run. He is hitting .199 with a .628 OPS in 160 postseason plate appearances. This is not a small sample size.

But is it so inconceivable that he could make the difference in a game with one swing of the bat?

Jhonny Peralta got the Tigers back into the AL Division Series with a three-run home run. Mike Napoli won Game 3 of the Championship Series with a home run, then got his team started with another one in Game 5.

It takes just one swing of the bat to change a game and, therefore, a series. Fielder can hit for power. Will he be a game-changer in Game 6 or, possibly, Game 7? His playoff history indicates that he probably won't.

But he might. If he does, the boos will disappear when he returns to Comerica Park for Game 1 of the World Series. If he doesn't, well, he and the Tigers might not hear from their fans until next spring.

What do you think? In your mind, what subtle change or difference could make the difference in Game 6 and, potentially, Game 7 for the Tigers? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.